A man from northern Moldova was sentenced to life imprisonment for sexually abusing and harassing his minor daughters. The Ocnița Prosecutor’s Office charged him on three counts: rape, violent actions of a sexual character and sexual harassment. The sentence given by the Ocnița branch of the Edineţ Court can be challenged in the appeals court, IPN reports.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, in 2018 – 2020 the man sexually abused his daughter aged 14 and harassed her sister aged 11. The mother went to work abroad and left the girls in the care of their father.

The older daughter told her grandmother what happened and the woman informed the police. The man was remanded in custody until his conviction. He didn’t admit his guilt. He was earlier convicted of similar actions against his wife.

The girls were offered medical and social assistance and psychological counseling.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, minors were victims of sexual offenses in 212 cases last year. Sixty-nine of the children were sexually abused in the family, with the abusers in 39 of the cases being close relatives. In 16 cases, the children were sexually abused by biological fathers, while in 14 cases – by the partners of their mothers.